Syrian Army Deserters Mowed Down by Machine Guns in Idlib

Dozens of Syrian Army soldiers were shot to death Monday as they fled their base in an attempt to desert in the province of Idlib.

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Chana Ya'ar, 19/12/11 22:41

Syrian tank unit joins opposition

Israel news screenshot: Ugarit News

Dozens of Syrian Army soldiers were killed by machine gun fire Monday as they fled their base in an attempt to desert in the province of Idlib.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the would-be defectors were shot to death by their former military comrades, citing witnesses who survived. According to the report, 72 of the would-be defectors were killed in the attack.

A total of 114 people were killed by Syrian government forces on Monday, Al Jazeera reported, quoting the Syrian Revolution General Commission, comprised of 40 opposition groups.

The United Nations General Assembly condemned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime Monday for its nine month-old crackdown on anti-government protesters, and the human rights abuses linked to it.

The vote approving the resolution highlighted the growing isolation of the Syrian government among its own peers at the 193-member international body.

A draft of the resolution was passed by the U.N.'s human rights committee, with strong Western and Arab support just one month ago.